FROM THE
FROM THE
CEO ’ S DESK
Dear reader ,
A mentor of mine recently gave me a wonderful read , Infectious Generosity , by Chris Anderson , the Head of TED . It aligns perfectly with the mutual model and our natural human instincts – a fascinating book that I highly recommend to everyone , especially professionals . Is the essence of being a graduate professional not to add value to society , to help others , through our disciplined training and expertise , making the world a better place ?
Anderson writes that the most powerful question people can ask of their own lives is : Am I a net giver or a net taker ? The people we have hurt versus the people we have helped . The resources we have consumed versus those we have protected . The ugliness we have contributed to versus the beauty we have created . The trees we have destroyed versus those we have planted . It is an intensely personal yet very important question . Because , ultimately , it affects our personal happiness .
Helping others — through our professional training and personal endeavours — is a key ingredient for a contented life , to enjoy deep happiness . Many truths about happiness are well appreciated : Love can make us happy . Beauty – in nature and in art – can make us happy . Meaningful work ( as done by us as graduate professionals ) can make us happy . Money – up to a certain level and to some extent – can make us happy . But we do not always appreciate the profound happiness that comes from assisting others , from paying it forward without expecting a return – from the pure and simple act of giving .
As the Chinese proverb goes : “ If you want happiness for an hour , take a nap . For a day , go fishing . For a few years , inherit a fortune . But for a lifetime ? Help others .”
Anderson ’ s message can be summarised in this paragraph : “ Generosity is a core part of who we are . Whether built by God or by evolution , we are wired to look out for each other . Our deepest fulfilment comes only when generosity is a fundamental part of our lives . Our specific obligations to our fellow humans are personal . But it is truly important that we find our own answers to that question . Our reputations , our long-term happiness and the happiness of those around us all depend on it .”
On p . 8 to 11 I share a few stories about paying it forward , from giving without any expectation of receiving anything in return . And yet , the universe has this peculiar way of sometimes blessing our generosity in the most unexpected ways , often ten-fold . The impact of simple deeds of kindness can be profound .
Which brings me back to the mutual model and collaboration . When we think about it , all major mutuals in the world exist because people were prepared to pay it forward . They were not founded because people invested money to yield a return . That stakeholder does not exist . No , they were founded because people were generous enough to be net givers rather than net takers . In that way a capital base was built . And as generations passed through these organisations , that capital base grew . Which also places a responsibility on us , as the beneficiaries of this generosity , to continue this growth and leave a legacy for the generations to come . Indeed , the fruit from many seeds that we as members of PPS today plant , new businesses in other geographies , new product lines , educational contributions , others after us will enjoy .
I trust that you will also enjoy this ( thirteenth ) edition of The Professional . And may we continue to look out for ways to collaborate and pay it forward !
Regards ,
Izak Smit
PPS Group Executive
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